Tension high at Congo border

By Emmy Allio
and John Thawite

TENSION is rising on the Uganda-Congo border due to the activities of the People’s Redemption Army (PRA) and the regrouping of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
Congolese rebels, the Armed Forces of the Congolese People (FAPC), said their forces had clashed with PRA rebels in Omgbokoro-Ariwara in northeastern Congo, about 15km from Koboko town.
FAPC leader General Jerome Kakwavu said his forces clashed with PRA recently and captured two fighters.
He said the clash near the Sudan-Uganda-Congo joint border resulted into the capture of three grenades and three rifles.
Army spokesman Major Shaban Bantariza said the PRA and ADF were not a threat to Uganda’s security. “We know they are in Congo, but they are just small bands. However, we cannot ignore them but continue to pick them one by one.”
“Under our tripartite agreement with Congo and Rwanda, we shall follow them and pick them,” he said.
Bantariza refused to comment on PRAs’ clash with FAPC rebels.
Armed men believed to be PRA and ADF on Thursday raided a market at Nziapande in Bundibugyo district.
Sources said the Uganda rebels are camped near Kamango in Beni zone in Congo.
Kakwavu said, “I have stopped the PRA from operating against Uganda from Congo soil. I will fight them if they attempt to set up camps in the territory under my control.”
He said he handed over the captured rebels and arms to the UPDF in Koboko.
Sources said the two captured rebels disclosed information to the army which helped to round up PRA fighters in Arua and Yumbe districts.
FAPC operation commander Col. Didier Wani-Chan said, “Ugandans should settle their own problems. But we shall not allow PRA on Congo soil.”